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Question: How do you maintain a healthy
work-life balance as an entrepreneur?

1. Let go of fear.

"Many entrepreneurs struggle with fear that if they're not
working every minute that they could possibly be working, their
business will fail and they will regret not having put in more
time. However, in my own experience and in observing other
successful entrepreneurs, letting go of this fear not only leads
to work-life balance but also more meaningful productivity and
accomplishment."

"These days, so many people are focused on getting funding,
explosive growth and spending 80 hours a week on their business.
While that's all great stuff, it can lead to burn out and
unhappiness really quickly. Make lifestyle the most important
factor in business from the beginning, and then grow with that
principle in mind—less stress, more happiness."

"Reserve set times in your schedule for activities that allow you
to recharge and that add value to your life, such as daily
exercise, a weekly date or social night, time for family
activities, and an annual vacation. You not only will have
something to look forward to, but also extra motivation to manage
your other time well so you do not have to cancel on others—and
yourself!"

"Calm down. It's 11 p.m. You're not going to lose that client if
you wait until tomorrow to respond to his request for a project
estimate. Set work hours for yourself and stick to them. If you
make yourself available at all hours—while out to dinner, while
on vacation, during "sexy time"—you set a dangerous precedent!"

"Our smartphones are a part of our everyday lives, but as an
entrepreneur, we literally sleep with it tucked under our pillow.
Simply turn off the phone and be amazed at how much you can get
done—you can even fit in a work out. You have to know when to
separate work and life, which starts with shutting off from
everything to take time for yourself. That's why there's a thing
called voicemail!"

"I started taking beginner piano lessons at age 26 so I could
schedule time away from my computer. Now I know that my Tuesday
and Thursday evenings are piano nights. I'm paying money to be
there, so you better believe I'll be shutting off my work to get
there."

"Being an entrepreneur often uses up all of your time, but it's
important to remember to stay healthy and work out. Try and add a
calendar invite reminding you to go to the gym, run or do
whatever fits you. If not, you'll most likely regret it when you
start seeing negative results."

"Too often, the work-life balance discussion revolves around
sleeping and exercising schedules; but for nonstop entrepreneurs,
the conversation needs to begin with what we're using for fuel.
It's important to stock up on healthy snacks that will reduce
your cravings (for less healthy foods) and keep you going 24/7.
Stash them in your desk, computer bag, and car for emergency
use."

"Many entrepreneurs I talk to often think about how much time off
that their peers have because of their cushy corporate jobs.
Entrepreneurs should try creating similar schedules as well so
that they can have proper work-life balance. If corporations can
make it happen, entrepreneurs can too!"

"It's great to delegate bookkeeping, marketing, and admin work,
but for many who are just starting off your budget won't
necessarily allow for it. Get creative and delegate more of your
"life" duties like childcare, cleaning house, and grocery
shopping to a spouse. Having my husband help me out by doing some
grocery shopping means I have more time to spend with him when
we're at home."

"If you can offload common tasks, such as scheduling and other
appointment setting, you'll free up your time to focus on the
most important tasks. Time boxing will allow you to apply laser
focus to one project at a time."

"If you're an entrepreneur, your business relies heavily on your
sleep and sanity. Make sure that you are putting yourself first
by eating right, sleeping well and exercising (at a minimum).
Remind yourself that those things are critical to thinking,
creating and performing at your best, and make sure you stand
firm to your commitments to all three."

"Personally, I'm not happy if I'm evenly dividing my time between
work and other things. I really enjoy what I do, to the point
that I get bored with a lot of hobbies. I focus on making sure
that I'm doing well on a personal level: if I'm feeling stressed
out, I'll take a step back; if I feel like I'm not getting enough
work done, I'm cool with investing more time."

"It's easy to forget about the "life" part. Unfortunately, this
ends up making you burn out, while never giving yourself "me"
time and enjoying the fruits of your labor. Reward yourself,
whether it's by taking a vacation, treating yourself to a day at
the spa, or turning off your devices and reading a book. It will
make you a better worker in the long run."

"Whether I spend 80 hours a week working on business or I'm
on vacation and give 100 percent of myself to my reflection and
refueling, my experience of both are pretty much the same. I make
it my priority to narrate the story of what I'm doing, how I'm
feeling, and how I'm spending my time in a way that makes me feel
good and balanced. The story I tell myself is what keeps me
thriving."

"If you want time for yourself, you need to schedule it into your
day. 4 days a week I make 2 hours for myself through Crossfit.
There is nothing more important to me than my health. To ensure I
never miss a class, it is scheduled into my calendar weeks in
advance and my day is planned around it just like an important
meeting with a client. If it's scheduled, you will do it. If it's
not, you won't."